Your Progress
Week 8: Charming Your Audience
How to Prepare to Charm Your Audience
Video Time: 8 Minutes Action Time: 30 Minutes – 4 Hours
Video Time: 8 Minutes
Action Time: 30 Minutes – 4 Hours
1
When confirming details about your interview, you will want to ask the following questions:
- “How many candidates are you considering for this position?” This question is important because you’ll know who your competition is. Knowing your competition, you’ll be able to use this as leverage. You’ll bring something fresh and new to the interview that your competition doesn’t possess.
- “What is the last day you will be interviewing for this position?” This questions is great as well. you want your interview to be as close to the last day as possible. if there’s other candidates, you want your interview to be the freshest in the interviewer’s mind. An interviewer is most likely to remember their last interview than the first, especially if there’s a multitude of candidates.
- “Ideally, when do you want the position filled?” Take some advice from George Clooney. He would intentionally go LAST on casting calls. By doing this, he’d be able to ask the director what they were searching for that the other actors didn’t have. Then, he’d show why he’d be perfect for the role by giving them exactly what they want.
2Research commonly used questions.
That way, you’ll have an idea on how to answer them prior to the interview. Just don’t memorize your response. You want to be comfortable enough to answer questions without sounding rehearsed.
1
When confirming details about your interview, you will want to ask the following questions:
- “How many candidates are you considering for this position?” This question is important because you’ll know who your competition is. Knowing your competition, you’ll be able to use this as leverage. You’ll bring something fresh and new to the interview that your competition doesn’t possess.
- “What is the last day you will be interviewing for this position?” This questions is great as well. you want your interview to be as close to the last day as possible. if there’s other candidates, you want your interview to be the freshest in the interviewer’s mind. An interviewer is most likely to remember their last interview than the first, especially if there’s a multitude of candidates.
- “Ideally, when do you want the position filled?” Take some advice from George Clooney. He would intentionally go LAST on casting calls. By doing this, he’d be able to ask the director what they were searching for that the other actors didn’t have. Then, he’d show why he’d be perfect for the role by giving them exactly what they want.
2Research commonly used questions.
That way, you’ll have an idea on how to answer them prior to the interview. Just don’t memorize your response. You want to be comfortable enough to answer questions without sounding rehearsed.
3
Determine what you can do for a company. What makes you special for a position? Create situations you might encounter in the job and come up with solutions. That way, at the interview, you can detail ways to help them solve problems! Wow! You’re useful!
4You can use GlassDoor or other research that you’ve done to prepare questions yourself. Just don’t rely solely on those questions as they’re merely a backup. You have them in case you forget any important ones.
3
Determine what you can do for a company. What makes you special for a position? Create situations you might encounter in the job and come up with solutions. That way, at the interview, you can detail ways to help them solve problems! Wow! You’re useful!
4You can use GlassDoor or other research that you’ve done to prepare questions yourself. Just don’t rely solely on those questions as they’re merely a backup. You have them in case you forget any important ones.
5
Practice, practice, practice! Do a mock interview! Ask yourself questions as if your reflection is the interviewee. Get family, friends, bridge trolls, etc. to do mock interviews with. Future you will appreciate the help, and Mr. Troll will appreciate someone to solve his riddles.
Don’t make the mistake of practicing an interview in your head! Unfortunately, we don’t sound as smart when we speak as we do in our heads. So open your mouth and do some tongue twisters because it’s talking time! Be sure to brush your teeth!
5
Practice, practice, practice! Do a mock interview! Ask yourself questions as if your reflection is the interviewee. Get family, friends, bridge trolls, etc. to do mock interviews with. Future you will appreciate the help, and Mr. Troll will appreciate someone to solve his riddles. Don’t make the mistake of practicing an interview in your head! Unfortunately, we don’t sound as smart when we speak as we do in our heads. So open your mouth and do some tongue twisters because it’s talking time! Be sure to brush your teeth!
Some Job Site Linked To Get Your Research Started
Some Job Site Linked To Get Your Research Started
How to Charm Your Audience: Show Time!
1
Make sure you dress professionally and arrive early. If possible, get to the job the day before so you can time your arrival. This is especially important if you take public transportation. Missing a bus has ruined many a perfectly timed arrival.
2Be yourself! Don’t be afraid to smile and make yourself approachable.
1
Make sure you dress professionally and arrive early. If possible, get to the job the day before so you can time your arrival. This is especially important if you take public transportation. Missing a bus has ruined many a perfectly timed arrival.
2Be yourself! Don’t be afraid to smile and make yourself approachable.
3
Make answers as simple and straight-to-the-point as possible. This way, you and the interviewer don’t get lost. If you’re someone who rambles, don’t! Just get the question answered. Two or three sentences is enough to answer a question.
4Don’t be afraid to make small talk. If the interviewer mentions having a dog, it’s okay to ask them about it. For added points, mention that you’re a dog person if you are, and if you aren’t, give them constructive criticism on the value of cats. Having a dialogue is the best way to build a connection with the interviewer and get the ball rolling.
3
Make answers as simple and straight-to-the-point as possible. This way, you and the interviewer don’t get lost. If you’re someone who rambles, don’t! Just get the question answered. Two or three sentences is enough to answer a question.
4Don’t be afraid to make small talk. If the interviewer mentions having a dog, it’s okay to ask them about it. For added points, mention that you’re a dog person if you are, and if you aren’t, give them constructive criticism on the value of cats. Having a dialogue is the best way to build a connection with the interviewer and get the ball rolling.
5
In interviews, the interviewer may feel they are better than you. So balance the scales! By creating dialogue you slowly tear down that belief and build a rapport. Instead of the interviewer feeling superior, you want them to think of you as their intellectual equal, their new colleague, or even as a new friend.
6Have throw-back questions! These are a back-and-forth conversation tool that consists of answering a question and follow it up with a question for them. It’s how you develop a natural conversation and build a kind of relationship you want to have with others.
5
In interviews, the interviewer may feel they are better than you. So balance the scales! By creating dialogue you slowly tear down that belief and build a rapport. Instead of the interviewer feeling superior, you want them to think of you as their intellectual equal, their new colleague, or even as a new friend.
6Have throw-back questions! These are a back-and-forth conversation tool that consists of answering a question and follow it up with a question for them. It’s how you develop a natural conversation and build a kind of relationship you want to have with others.
You want the interviewer to think you’re fun and easy-going. This level of thinking helps others see you as a colleague and not someone who’s beneath them in an hierarchy of power.
You want the interviewer to think you’re fun and easy-going. This level of thinking helps others see you as a colleague and not someone who’s beneath them in an hierarchy of power.
Here’s a Conversation That Utilizes Throwback Questions:
Interviewer: I see that you were a spelling bee champion in the eighth grade.
You: Y-e-s, it was the highlight of my young life.
I: Ah. (feeling superior) Peaked early?
Y: Like the first draft of Mt. Everest! (throw-back-question!) Did you ever spell?
I: N-o. My father made me play polo instead…
Y: I always wanted to play polo!
I: It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Mr. Ralph Lauren.
Here’s a Conversation That Utilizes Throwback Questions:
Interviewer: I see that you were a spelling bee champion in the eighth grade.
You: Y-e-s, it was the highlight of my young life.
I: Ah. (feeling superior) Peaked early?
Y: Like the first draft of Mt. Everest! (throw-back-question!) Did you ever spell?
I: N-o. My father made me play polo instead…
Y: I always wanted to play polo!
I: It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Mr. Ralph Lauren.
On the next episode, we’ll tell you how to end an interview. See you there!
On the next episode, we’ll tell you how to end an interview. See you there!